How Do You Make Electricity With Water?
Water is a source of tremendous energy. Water moves downhill in rivers or follows the tug of the moon with ocean currents, creating kinetic energy that can be harnessed. When this kinetic energy is turned into electricity, it is called hydroelectric power. Learn about potential energy. Potential energy is any sort of stored energy in a system. If water is at a higher elevation, for example, it has potential energy. When it flows downhill, the potential energy turns into motion or kinetic energy. Hydroelectric energy—energy that uses water as its source—harnesses that kinetic energy. Learn to recognize bad water science. Water is at a low energy state—it can’t be burned like wood or coal to produce energy. There are things that react violently with water such as elemental sodium, but water itself cannot be turned into energy. The best one can do is use moving water as a source of potential energy. Some con artists try to market water as a miracle energy source, but it isn’t. See t
